Lyr Add: Little Dame Crump

Subject: Lyr Add: Little Dame Crump
From: Joe Offer
Date: 18 Dec 12 - 02:47 AM

A man from Australia named Robert Noonan sent me these lyric for posting. Here's his explanatory note:

Joe,
At long last after chasing some relatives who had the rest of the words that I couldn't remember, here is Little Dame Crump. It is sung to the tune of "Sweet Betsy from Pike" (who crossed the big prairie with her partner Ike). Its the tune that the piano player in every '50s western movie is playing in the saloon when the hero walks in.
There is a fairly large variation on some of the words depending on who is singing it, but this is an amalgam that sounds right to me.
Sorry for the delay, you wouldn't believe the amount of investigation I had to do among uncles, cousins, etc. It was like an Indiana Jones adventure at times.
Merry Christmas to you and have a happy, safe and prosperous New Year.
Regards,
Robert Noonan.



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LITTLE DAME CRUMP

Little Dame Crump with her little hair broom
One morning was sweeping her little bedroom.
When casting her little grey eyes on the ground,
In a sly little corner a penny she found.

"Oh, my dear!" cried the dame as she stared in surprise.
"How lucky I am, bless my heart what a prize!"
To market I'll go and a pig I will buy,
And little John Gubbins shall make him a sty.

So she washed her face clean and she put on her gown.
Locked up the house and set off for the town.
To market she went and a purchase she made
Of a little white pig and a penny she paid.

When she purchased the pig she was puzzled to know
How she should get home if the pig would not go.
So fearing lest piggy should play her a trick,
She drove him along with her little crook stick.

Piggy ran til he came to the foot of a hill,
Where a little bridge stood o'er the stream of a mill.
When he grunted and squeaked and no further would go,
Oh, Fie little pig to serve the little dame so.

Now she went to the mill where she borrowed a sack,
Which she popped the pig in and took on her back.
Piggy cried to get out, but the little dame said,
"If you won't go by fair means you then must be made."

She soon to the end of her journey was come,
And was mightily pleased when she got piggy home.
So she carried the pig to his nice little sty,
And made him a bed of clean straw, snug and dry.

With a handful of beans then piggy she fed,
Put on her nightgown and popped into bed.
She pulled up the blanket and turned out the light,
And being quite tired we'll wish her good night.

Subject: ADD Version: Little Dame Crump
From: Joe Offer
Date: 18 Dec 12 - 03:12 AM

And here's an illustrated PDF version with an alternate text:

LITTLE DAME CRUMP AND HER WHITE PIG
The History of Little Dame Crump and her Little White Pig

Little Dame Crump with her little hair broom
One morning was sweeping her little bed room.
And casting her little grey eyes on the ground,
In a sly little corner a penny she found.

"Odds bobs!" cried the dame, While she stared with surprise,
"How lucky I am, Bless my heart what a prize!
To market I'll go And a pig I will buy,
And little John Gubbins Shall make him a sty."

So she washed her face clean, And put on her gown.
Then locked up the house, And set off for the town.
Where to market she went, And a bargain she made,
For a little white pig The penny she paid.

When she purchased the pig, She was puzzled to know,
How they both should get home If the pig would not go.
So fearing that piggy Might play her a trick,
She drove him along With a little crab stick.

Piggy ran til he came To the foot of a hill,
Where a little bridge stood O'er the stream of a mill.
When he grunted, and squeaked, And no further would go;
Oh, fie! little pig To serve little dame so.

Now she went to the mill, Where she borrowed a sack,
Which she popped the pig in, And took on her back.
Piggy cried to get out, But the little dame said,
"If you won't go by fair means, you then must be made."

She soon to the end Of her journey was come,
And was mightily pleased When she got piggy home;
So she carried the pig To his nice little sty,
And made him a bed Of clean straw, snug and dry.

With a handful of peas, Little pig she then fed,
Then she put on her nightcap And went into bed
Having first said her prayers, Then she put out the light,
And being quite tired, We'll bid her good night.

published by McLoughlin Brothers, New York. Date of publication not found.

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Also in Songs and Rhymes for the Little Ones, compiled by Mary Jane Whitney Morrison, Knickerbocker Press, 1884.